MAILBOX

Published: November 2, 2003 7:00PM

Editor:

Have you noticed the unfinished house on Route 215 west of Sarahsville? Perhaps you would take a moment and call the Noble County commissioners in an effort to help my daughter, Eva Arnold Farley, reach a settlement and get into her new home.

Oh, what a happy day it was back in July 2001 when Eva was accepted as an applicant through the CHIP Grant housing program run by the Noble County commissioners. This grant would make it possible for her to upgrade from her old trailer to a house at an amount she could afford. Although this wait was long and sometimes awkward, Eva was assured that since she owned four acres of land she could get a nice two-bedroom house built on her land cost effectively. Everything would be taken care of and she could move right in on completion. That was the selling point to Eva, everything taken care of and move right in.

The grant was $25,000 paid to a contractor before any ground was moved. Eva signed the paperwork in February 2003.

The basement arrived in 10 pieces. It sat on site so long people thought it was a swimming pool. Then the house eventually appeared. Times passed, birds set up residence in the house, and puddles become numerous throughout the house from all the rain.

Eventually a crew arrived to finish Evas house. By now the house was in pitiful condition.

The Noble County commissioners want Eva to assume ownership of the house and be happy because she was given the $25,000 grant and a low interest loan through USDA. If Eva accepts the house as is, her loan would be $77,000. If one adds the $25,000 already paid to the contractor, the coast would soar to $102,000, and Eva would still have to finish the upstairs and assume responsibility for the dysfunctions of the house down the road. Thats a pretty hefty sum for an economy package house!

Recently, Eva and I met with the commissioners. One commissioner told Eva that she simply was making trouble because she worked for GMN and was being prodded by that agency to be difficult because GMN lost this CHIP Grant program a number of years ago.

Eva now has a house that was built sub-standard due to lax enforcement of the program. If the CHIP Grant program is to help folks upgrade their living standards, lets make an effort to make sure these programs are administered properly.

Eva is facing a debt of $77,000, a house that is unlivable, and an insurmountable amount of stress. It was supposed to be so simple. What would you do if this was your daughter?